New Delhi, Nov. 27 (The Telegraph): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today iterated that the sole "religious text" for the government was the Constitution and reached out to the Congress by invoking Jawaharlal Nehru but went on to define the "Idea of India" through couplets mostly drawn from Hindu scriptures.

Modi, who looked mellower than usual, reached out to the Opposition more than once and said: "The government's religion is - India First. The government's religious text is - Constitution."

Without making any direct reference to secularism, the Prime Minister added: "In simple words, Constitution means - dignity for India, unity for India."

Modi asserted that the thrust of his government is on " sab ka saath (carrying along everyone)" and said: "No section of the society should lag behind. If any part of the body is paralysed, the body cannot be called healthy. We have to empower people from all sections, be it any community, region or language."

The Prime Minister made a series of such edifying statements that are certain to find universal acceptance.

But wrapping up the two-day debate in the Lok Sabha on the commitment to the Constitution, Modi said at breathtaking pace: "Idea of India: Satyamev jayate; Idea of India: Ahimsa parmo dharma; Idea of India: Ekam sad viprah bahudha vadanti...."

As many as 18 definitions of the "Idea of India" flowed (See chart) .

The rapid-fire delivery triggered frenzied thumping of desks by gleeful BJP members, including those who have been in the dock recently for provocative statements.

Modi did not refer to most of the issues that triggered the intolerance debate. On specifics, the closest the Prime Minister went was when he said: "There are people who believe in the God and those who do not believe in the God. There are people who do idol worship.... All have different views. They have aspirations and expectations which have to be accommodated."

The murder of rationalists was one of the reasons for disquiet among writers and artists who have returned their awards.

Modi chose to talk about a "consensual approach" and cooperation. He had used similar homilies and tried to project an accommodative attitude while speaking in Parliament once in the past and also from the Red Fort on Independence Day. But his pet theme about India changing and getting respect only after his ascent to power in 2014 had deepened the schism with the Opposition.

Today, Modi reminded the Opposition that he had said from the Red Fort that every government in the past had contributed to nation-building. "Today's topic of discussion is not about 'I' and 'you' but it is about 'We'.... Nobody can say previous governments did nothing. This is my conviction," he told the House.

"There should be consensus, at least efforts should be made for consensus."

Opposition sources later felt that more than the election setback in Bihar, the political exigencies of ensuring smooth functioning of Parliament for the passage of bills might have driven this change of approach.

Modi tried to assuage the sense of hurt in the Congress for ignoring Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and saying: "Some people attained such heights that nobody can obliterate their names. This confidence should be there."

For a change, the Prime Minister not only took Nehru's name several times, he also gave credit to Congress stalwarts, along with B.R. Ambedkar, for the formulation of the Constitution.

Modi recalled that when Ram Manohar Lohia questioned the first Prime Minister's figures on some issue, "Pandit Nehru said he would not challenge Lohia. Such was the greatness of Pandit Nehru".

While pointing out that the Constitution would not have become such a "social document" without Ambedkar, Modi pleaded: "This should not be taken as criticism of any other leader."

The Lok Sabha unanimously passed a resolution moved by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, which vowed to protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country and its democratic, socialist and secular character.

The draft resolution initially did not have the words "socialist" and "secular" but these were inserted after protest by the Congress-led Opposition. The resolution also placed on record the contribution of Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Abul Kalam Azad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in addition to Ambedkar, in the making of the Constitution.

 A speech that could have been delivered decades ago and can be delivered decades later

Timeless truisms wrapped in shlokas, salute to predecessors & silence on recent events

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his 70-plus-minute speech in the Lok Sabha by defining the “Idea of India” 18 times through a series of shlokas and maxims (mostly in Sanskrit but not all). Pheroze L. Vincent of The Telegraph reproduces below the 18 definitions Modi mentioned, their translations and origins. Modi prefixed each saying with the phrase “Idea of India”

Idea of India: Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone triumphs)
Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6

Idea of India: Ahimsa paramo dharma (Non-violence is the highest duty)
The Mahabharata 1.11.12

Idea of India: Ekam sad viprah bahudha vadanti (Truth is one, sages call it by various names)
Rigveda I.164.46

Idea of India: Paudhe mein bhi parmatma hota hai (Even plants have God in them)
Origin unknown

Idea of India: Vasudhaiva kutumbakam (The whole world is one family)
Mahopanishad VI.71-73

Idea of India: Sarva pantha samabhava (Same treatment for all sects)
Origin unknown

Idea of India: Appo deepo bhava (Be a light unto yourself)
Buddha’s last words

Idea of India: Tena tyaktena bhunjitha (Enjoy through renunciation)
Isavasya Upanishad

Idea of India: Sarve bhavantu sukhinah/ sarve santuh niramaya/ sarve bhadrani pashyantu/ ma kaschin dukh bhag bhavet (Everyone should be happy and healthy/ everyone should see only the good/ and no one should suffer from misery or diseases)
Adi Shankara’s prayer (Inspired by the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

Idea of India: Na tvaham kaamaye rajyam, na moksham na punarbhavam/ Kaamaye dukh taptanam, praninam artinaashanam (I desire not kingdom nor salvation nor rebirth/ I desire only an end to the sufferings of living beings)
Rantidev, a mythological king (In Bhagavata Purana)

Idea of India: Vaishnava jana toh, tene kahiye je peed paraayee jaane re (He is a Vaishnav who feels the pain of others)
Narsinh Mehta’s bhajan (The 15th-century bhajan was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi)

Idea of India: Jan seva hi prabhu seva (Service of people is service of God)
Swami Vivekananda

Idea of India: Saha navavatu/ Saha nau bhunaktu/ Saha veeryam karvaavahai (May God protect us both [teacher and student]/ May God nourish us both/ May we work together with energy and vigour)
Katha Upanishad

Idea of India: Nar karani kare toh Narayan ho jaaye (Man can become God through his deeds)
Origin unknown

Idea of India: Nari tu Narayani (All women are goddesses)
Origin unknown (Also, the title of a hit Gujarati film made in 1978)

Idea of India: Yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tatra devata (Where women are honoured, divinity blossoms there)
Manusmriti

Idea of India: Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah (Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions)
Rig Veda

Idea of India: Janani janmabhoom ishcha swargadapi gariyasi (Mother and motherland are superior to heaven)
Valmiki’s Ramayana

Photo credit: The Telegraph